If you woke up today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, wondering who did the Cincinnati Bengals play today, the answer is probably not what you wanted to hear. They didn't play anyone. While other teams are bruising it out in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs, the Bengals are already deep into their offseason plans.
Basically, the season ended for Cincinnati back on January 4.
It's a weird feeling for a city that has recently grown used to deep January runs. Usually, this time of year means the orange and black are either prepping for a flight to Kansas City or hosting a frozen battle at Paycor Stadium. Not this time. Honestly, it’s been a bit of a reality check for the Who Dey Nation.
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Why aren't the Bengals playing today?
The math is pretty simple, even if it’s painful. The Bengals finished their 2025-26 campaign with a 6-11 record. That’s just not going to get you into the postseason dance. While the Houston Texans are taking on the New England Patriots and the LA Rams are facing the Chicago Bears today, Joe Burrow and the rest of the roster are likely watching from their couches.
The season finale was a heartbreaker, sort of a microcosm of their whole year. They played the Cleveland Browns on January 4 and lost 20-18. It was a messy game. Myles Garrett even broke the single-season sack record during that matchup, which just added insult to injury for Cincy fans.
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What went wrong this season?
You can't really point to just one thing. It was a "death by a thousand cuts" kind of year. Burrow was healthy for most of it, which usually guarantees a winning record, but the consistency just wasn't there.
- The Defense: They struggled to get off the field. In that final Browns game, the defense actually only gave up six points themselves, but special teams and offensive turnovers made life impossible.
- Self-Inflicted Wounds: After the finale, Burrow was pretty blunt, saying they basically beat themselves with false starts and mental errors.
- The AFC North Gauntlet: The division was a meat grinder. The Steelers actually won the division this year at 10-7, which shows you just how tight and ugly the AFC North can get.
Looking ahead to the 2026 opponents
Even though we know who did the Cincinnati Bengals play today (nobody!), we already know who they will be facing next season. The NFL formula is set in stone. Because the Bengals finished third in the AFC North, they’ve got a unique schedule lined up for 2026.
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They’ll be hosting the Kansas City Chiefs at Paycor Stadium again. That’s always a blockbuster. They also have the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers coming to town, as usual. For the out-of-conference stuff, they’ll be playing the NFC South, which means the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be visiting Cincinnati.
On the road, things get a bit more travel-heavy. They’ll be heading to play the Miami Dolphins, Washington Commanders, and Houston Texans.
Actionable next steps for Bengals fans
Since there’s no game to watch today, here is how you can actually spend your Sunday if you're still craving some Bengals football energy:
- Check the Mock Drafts: The Bengals are officially locked into the No. 9 overall pick for the 2026 NFL Draft. Experts are already arguing whether they should go for offensive line help or snag another weapon for Burrow.
- Scout the Divisional Games: Watch the Texans vs. Patriots game today. The Texans are a potential road opponent for the Bengals next year, and seeing how they handle the playoff pressure gives you a good look at the future of the AFC.
- Review the Free Agency List: Keep an eye on the defensive side of the ball. The Bengals have some major decisions to make regarding their secondary and pass rush if they want to avoid another 6-11 season.
It’s a quiet Sunday in Cincinnati, but the road back to the playoffs starts with the scouting reports being written right now.